M A I L B A G

Need to make CFLs popular to save power

The Punjab government’s decision to install compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in its offices and buildings is timely because it will help save 150 MW of additional power in Punjab. The use of CFLs in place of ordinary bulbs in government offices and all houses should be made mandatory. It should not be left to people’s discretion.

The Punjab government should check the Indian-made and China-made CFLs with a cost variation of Rs 110 and Rs 25 respectively. As those made in China are of poor quality, the government should take control of the purchase of CFLs and provide them at a reasonable price of about Rs 35-40 so that people can afford them.

In Punjab and other states, the use of CFLs should be made compulsory in a phased manner; this will greatly help conserve energy. To save energy is to produce energy.

S. K. MITTAL, Panchkula

II

The Punjab government deserves to be appreciated for having decided to replace traditional incandescent lamps with CFLs in all its buildings and offices. Instructions have been issued to all departments to make use of CFLs mandatory in the offices. This alone will result in saving 150 MW of power.

However, things should not end here. All the consumers - urban or rural - should be supplied with CFLs at subsidised rates, may be through the Punjab State Electricity Board, as is being done by the Haryana Unity Services. This will result in saving .

People should be made aware of the use of CFLs through a campaign in the print and electronic media. All possible efforts must be made to save power.

Dr NARESH RAJ, Patiala

Double punishment

Much has been written on military cadets. There is more to the government’s insensitivity towards its injured soldiers. I quote my own example to show how the government treats its soldiers.

I met with an accident while on duty and became physically handicapped. I cleared the Board selection for promotion to the rank of Colonel, but was denied the promotion due to medical disability. I, therefore, sought premature retirement. I refused to serve under a junior officer.

However, the government denied me the disability pension citing Rule 23 of the Pension Regulations of India. This rule deprives one of the disability pension if he seeks premature retirement, even if the injury sustained was on duty. I fail to understand the relationship between the disability sustained on duty and premature retirement.

I was punished twice for my dedication to duty. I always thought that disability pension is granted to compensate one for the disability sustained while on duty.

Lt-Col S.S. KATHURIA (retd), Ludhiana

Emulate Haryana

The Haryana government’s decision to promote higher education of women is welcome (May 23). This would be beneficial to society as a long-term investment because most girl students, despite having high potential, are deprived of proper opportunities to develop. The biased attitude of society is mainly responsible for the plight of the girl child.

The Punjab government too should come forward with schemes of granting subsidised long-term loans to meritorious girls for higher education irrespective of income, caste or creed.

SATNA SINGH SAHOTA, Garhdiwala (Hoshiarpur)

NET exam

The Mungekar Committee’s recommendation to scrap the NET examination will ruin the careers of a large number of students holding the NET certificate. Those having M.Phil and Ph. D degrees are exempted from this exam. Obviously, getting these degrees is not as much difficult as qualifying in the NET exam.

Moreover, candidates holding these degrees are blessed by their guides during their interviews for lecturers’ posts in the colleges and are strongly recommended by the universities’ subject experts.

These experts even recommend the M.Phil holders strongly though a good candidate having qualified in the NET exam is also available. Consequently, the so-called subject experts are responsible for the dilution of academic and teaching  standards.

ATUL KUMAR AHUJA, Barwala, Panchkula